Boss that Calls Without Notice

[Anonymous]

If you were one of my juniors, I would totally put you in the shit house for pulling this. You’d get the crappy projects, no feedback, no help with professional development, and I’d do what I could to get you out.

Why would you not just fire the person instead. It would honestly be kinder and better for both sides than making a useless employee's work life miserable for months or years.

Or, better yet, make your expectations clear from the outset, as well as the consequences.

[Anonymous]

PP - that’s illegal in employment law. Watch it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an introvert and wouldn't tolerate that.

You would not last in most jobs or in the business world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think this is an extrovert vs. introvert issue tbh.

Introverts need to stick with reclusive coding type jobs. Other jobs require verbal communication skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Crazy thread.

I'm an introverted Gen-X worker. I have no idea why anyone would have a problem with his boss calling him about work-related topics during normal working hours. That is how work works.

I would feel differently if this thread were about short calls that turn into hour-long discussions, but, as far as I can tell, that is not that issue that OP has. I could also see where it might be a problem if the boss calls extremely frequently (multiple times per hour) with simple, non-urgent questions, but, again, this does not seem to be the problem under discussion.

In any case: if you are at work and the phone rings, answer it. If your boss is on the other end, talk to him. If he has questions, answer them.

GenX here as well and I feel the same way. A quick work related question during work hours seems reasonable. I truly can’t imagine why it’s an issue. But I’m old so clearly there’s a disconnect. But I asked my adult DC (25) and they reacted the same way I did. They didn’t see any problem with their boss giving them a quick call without notice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do any of you have bosses that only call? No emails, and no warnings of upcoming meetings or scheduling. I know it is within their rights to do this but it can be unnerving for the employee to always be on edge. Anyone else have a boss like this?

This is the norm in the business world. Why are you on edge? I'd get some counseling.

[Anonymous]

I’m a 45 year old manager and I often call my employees, peers, or boss without notice and they call me. It has never occurred to me that we shouldn’t call each other without notice during business hours and I find this whole thread perplexing.

[Anonymous]

If you can’t take a call from your boss without advance notice you should find a new job.

[Anonymous]

What about if they call you at the very end of the day? Still technically work hours but at the cusp?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about if they call you at the very end of the day? Still technically work hours but at the cusp?

Why is everyone against working nowadays? If your job is stressful for you find a new job.

[Anonymous]

Yeah and then write up letters about how I did not answer the phone. Bye bish!!!

I don’t need that shit!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this is an extrovert vs. introvert issue tbh.

Introverts need to stick with reclusive coding type jobs. Other jobs require verbal communication skills.

Thanks for letting us know that you completely do not know what an introvert is.
Please educate yourself.

[Anonymous]

When we work online, out status shows our the computer. I know if someone is available. If I need to talk and it’s green, I just call. If it’s red, I’ll IM that I need to talk.

In my office, the people that are always unavailable, or their computer never works, or they don’t answer calls - these are the people who never work. They get counseled and forced to work in the office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all sound like dinosaurs. Nobody calls people or wants a phone call.

This.

Seriously. Do not call me. Schedule a meeting if you MUST talk to me beyond what can be communicated in a few lines of text.

Come on.

-42, elder millennial

+1

A phone call out of the blue throws me off for a while. Please don't call without notice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When we work online, out status shows our the computer. I know if someone is available. If I need to talk and it’s green, I just call. If it’s red, I’ll IM that I need to talk.

In my office, the people that are always unavailable, or their computer never works, or they don’t answer calls - these are the people who never work. They get counseled and forced to work in the office.

Or stand in the unemployment line.

Anyone who cringes when the phone rings is obviously doing something other than working and they know it.